Building and shelving construction.



R. R. BELCHER.

BUILDING AND SHELVING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1908.

Patented. June 22, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Z z a vwanoz attenua? wi h1 @com R. R. BELCHBR. BUILDING AND SHELVING CONS'IEUCFIION APPLIGATION FILED 193.27, 1908.

925,677, Patented June 22, 1909.-

3 SHEETS--BHEET 2.'

R. R. BELCHEL BILDINGv AND SHELVING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 190s.

mw .m 9 m 1L! m /I//h//l f//l/w/A y y /Y l ,1l A x .W1/47.47 w w19/,17,1 .n ,/7. www/SWW? 2 s, -N ,1V 2 w I mm i 11h -1 |1 41,111 m m Y Tw kw ww NW m Lm 1 rl. .DL hw u ww \.N.m. NN. Nm. E ww mw N N H NN liti! ww \\.w @IV 7|. z l 7. M. 6, 5 m mHlnH 2 Ou 5l/vitamines sraras Pa f orio;J

BUILDING' AND SHELVING ONSTRUUTIGN. i

Application led April 27, 1908. Serial No. 429,399.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .ru'ne aa, isos.

To all 'whom it may con-cem: Y

Be it known that I, RALPH ROY BELCHER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Bainbridge, in the county of Decatur and State of Georgia,YK have invented new and useful Improvements in Building and Shelving Construction, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a system yof buildingconstruction and more particularly to a system especially designed for store rooms, ware houses andthe like.

One object of the invention is to provide a unit system of construction by means of whichY a building may be extended indefinitely in alldirections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knock downy structure which may be readily assembled and disassembled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a strong, simple, and cheap system of building construction which may either be applied to buildings already in existence,-

or which may be readily utilized to erect either permanent or temporary new structures.

Wirth the above and other objects in view, my invention consistsl in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying` d awings in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section of a building constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the top of one of my improved columns.' Fig. 3 is a perslpective view from below of the .end of thefsi or lintel` Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View ofthe bottom of a column and associated pedestal, the parts being shown separated for 'the sake of clearness. l

Fig. 5 is la cross sectional elevation showing my invention pplied to a building already constructed. 1g. 6 is a erspective View showing m improved shef rest and supporting 'co umn. Fig. 7 isa perspective view showing one ofthe members yof such shelf resta Fig. 8 isl a perspective view of rmy improved column, showing the parts thereof separated. Fig. 9, is a longitudinal section through a building in which my invention is em loyed, such section being taken substantially on the line 9-.9 of Fig.

5. Fig. v10 is a fragmentary side elevationon an enlarged scale showing a detail of construction hereinafter described.

spaced apart by the storage of merchandise, I may p Referring to the drawings in detail, one of the fundamental elements of my improvedV construction consists of a novel form of column 1.l l

As clearly shown in Fi s. 2 and 8 this column comprises a pair o L-irons 1a and 1b,

means of a plate l co-extensive with said l.irons, the three parts being securely riveted together. The u per end of the plate 1 C is cut away or notche as at 1d, to provide a socket for the reception of the cross beams, hereinafter described. In

erecting the building, such for. example, asv

shown inl Fig. 1, I place two such columns 1 in position, and connect them at their upper ends by means of aI lintel 2, above which is arranged the usual or any desired roof, 3.

B reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the intel is of substantial T-shape and preferably com rises a pair of L-irons riveted together. .Tie web 6 of such T-shaped lintel 1s preferably cut away as at 4, so aste leave the flanges projecting, as at 5. By reference to Figs. 2 and 3, therefore, itwill be readily understood that the web portion' 4 is ada ted to be embraced by the two spaced mem ers ofthe column, and to fit into the notch in the plate 1C. In this position the flanges v5 rest upon the top of the spaced members oi' the column, and the arts are secured in position by means of bolts 7', passing'through the holes 7, in said members.

'-A't the bottom'of the columns, I provide a member 8 which constitutes a sill, and is in all res ects similar to the lintel 2, just describe This sill may rest u lon a bed of Iconcrete, and is secured, to the ottoni of the columns by means of bolts 7, in the manner ust described in connection with the lintel. he spacebetween the columns 1, constitutes the aisle or passageway ofthe storehouse, and near the top maybe provided with windows or sky lights 21, and with suitable ventilators 22. It will thus be' seen. that ample light and ventilation may be obtained throughout the'entire length oi the buildin In order to provide suitable s elf s ace for ace one units of or more of my improved structure A frame work'on each side of the aisle.

shown in Fi 1, I arrange short columns 9' and 10,whic are composedof a pair'of L- irons as shown in Fig. l6, back to back, against the outsiderof t 'e columns 1, and secure-them thereto by means of bolts 20h.

These short columns'rest upon sills 15 and 16 similar in all respects tothe sill 8 and at the outer end of these sills l arrange' other short columns 13, 14 of the same height as the columns 9 and'10, and finally connect`the. upper ends of columns 9 and 13, 10 and 14 by means of lintels 11 and 12, respectively.

These lintels are identical with the lintel 2,l

and are secured to their columns by means of bolts 7 in the same manner. Suitable roon 19, is arranged to extend between the co umns 1 and 13, 1 and 14, and Walls 20- prelerably formed in sections of sheet metal,

V- or other suitable material, 'may be secured to the outside or inside of the columns 13 and 14. The sills 15 andl, aswell as the sill 8,

may be secured to a concrete 'foundation lo means of anchors 17, embedded in suc foundation and provided at their upper ends with screw threads and nuts, as at 18. l

In order to providemeans forsupporting the shelves, I may construct the short columns above described, as shown in Fig. 6. By reference to this -ligure it will be seen that the column is identical with that shown in Figs. 2 and 8, except that the plate 1 is notched, not only atits ends, but also at regular intervals throughout its length, to

' provide sockets for the rece tion of the shelf rests. 'As clearly shown inJ igs. 6 and 7,'the shelf rest 1s composed of two members formed of sheet metal and each comprising a shelf supporting portion 23, a socket engaging portion 23h, an upturned end 23, and a depending web 23d. f These two webs are fitted and riveted together, and the two socket engaging portions are inserted into boards of suitable widt and length, is laid,v

. and is retained in position by the turned up ends 23. As shown in Fig. 5 these rests and Shelves may be of the samewidth, or of progressively di'erent Widths, as found convenient.

Referrin now more particularly to Fig. 5, the metho Iof employing my invention in a Store room already constructed, is illustrated. v Columns 1, preferably provided .with shelf? rest receiving sockets, are `ranged along a wall' such as 29a, ol the building, and-'if the wall is ofsuch a nature as to permit it, may be bolted thereto. ln this arran ement. of my structural units, it is prefera le to omit the sills such as 15, shown in Fig. 1, and to employ in their stead, edestals 25, for supportmg the columns.

`y reference to Fig. 4, it

prises a base portion having an upstanding web 26, adapted to enter the notch formed at the lower end of the member 1, and to be embraced by the members 1a and 1b. The base portion of the pedestal is rovided with lcolt holes 27, by means of whic the pedestal may be secured to the floor of the building. A similar attaching device or pedestal 25, is employed at the u per end of each ol the columns 1, and is adj y Y ceiling. ln case the wall of the building is of such a nature as to render the bolting of the columns thereto impracticable, these edestals secured to the floor and ceilin-O at t e top and. bottom ofr the columns will be found am le to hold them in position.

n addition to the long columns 1, l may set up, short columns `30 and 31' arranged back to back in the 4same manner as the columns 1 and 10 in Fig. 1. These columns may similarly be supported on pedestals 25, and the columns 30 are connected with the columns 1, by means of beams or lintels 32 as clearly shown, the space between the columns 3'1 constituting an aisle, andbetween the columns 31) and 1, constituting shelf space. Abovethe lintels 32 may be laid flooring 34, around the sides of the building, thusconstituting a secondy story or gallery, and serving to economize space, and increase the storage apted to be bolted to the l capacity of any given building. It willbe understood, of course, 'that the columns 31 and lintel 33 may be omitted and simply the columns 1 and 30 and their connecting beams 32 employed, if desired.v

While in Fig. 1 have shown a single centrai aisle with shelf spaces oneitherside thereof, it will be obvious that units similar to that composed of the members 10, 12, 14 and 16 for instance, may be added indefinitely. l have illustrated this vfeature further in Fig. 5, Where l have shown at the right of the ligure a third long column 1", arranged back Y to back to thev'column 1, and secured thereto hymeansof `bolts 20h. From this' column,

a beam 32 may extendto a similar column,

or to another short column, and it will thus be seen that by simply adding structural units of the type shown, the frame work may be extended indefinitely, and ma be made to conform to any re uirements w atever.'

ln Fig. 10 l have il ustrated the manner in" which units can be placed one above another, as well as connected side by side. ligure yillustrates on an enlarged scale, a cor'- ner, such, for example, vas vthat formed by the junction of members 30, 31, 32-and 33. lf

desired, asecond set of lunits constructed of Y the members 30 to 33 inclusive may be su- ,perposed upon the members 32 and 33, and.

secured thereto and to each other as by bolts' sob and 20. f

In Fig. 9 Ihave shown a longitudinal view of a portion of a structure, erected in accord- This llll

height, as above described, and these beams 36, 36 serve'to sup ort any flooring which it may be desired to llay.

In order to facilitate the work of attaching walls, doors and traiisoms to the columns; and especially inorder to provide for the attachment of plate glass windows and the like, I may, if desired, lay wooden strips 1,

(see Fig. 4) in the angles of the L-irons usedv for the columns, and secure them in place by means of bolts (not shown). By this means the doors, transoms, and walls, or window framing, can be easily attached directly to these wooden strips. p y v It will of course be understood that in any structure where shelving is required, the type of column illustrated in Fig. 6 will be employed, but where it is desired merely to produce a building construction without shelving, the form of column shown in Figs. 2 and 8 will be employed. g

It will thus'be seen that I have'provided a novel systemv of interchangeable parts and units, by means of which supporting frame work may be applied to existing structures, or new buildings may be quickly and readily erected, and that the various arts may be readily assembled or disassemlled,,and the structure extended indefinitely in all directions.

Units embodying the featuresy of my invention can be also readily adapted to what are known as bargain counters, that is to say little booths inter `osed in large department stores in the ais es, so that` passers may quickly inspect the articles de osited thereon.

In such uses two of the unit e ements may be backed u back to 'back with the pedestals connecte thereto and to the fioorand the shelves'connected in suitablev disposition to lthe vertical elements. Such arrangement whichv I have termed bargain booths or bargain counters can be very readily set up at any point in the store and be as readily removed without in any wise defa'cing the general arrangement of,A the store or defacing or'mutilating the flooring. e

It will be understood of course lthat while I h'ave used the 'word ri-vets" throughout the specification and claims, I do not intend `to limit my invention to the use of this exact form offastening device. Obviously, screws, nails, bolts or any suitable fastening devices may be em loyed instead of. rivets, if found more desira le.

In this way it will be* cut away so as to provide a no tc What I claim is:

1. In a unit system of building construction, a structural unit com rising a pair of columns, and a sill and lintellconnecting said columns so as to form a rectangular frame, each of said columns being composed of a pair of separately formed, spaced members, and said sill and lintel being of substantial 'IT-shape, the webs of said sill and lintel being embracedvby said spaced Amembers 'at each end, and the flanges of. said sill and lintel abutting the ends of said spaced members, such units adapted to be combined indefinitely, and when so combined, having the sill of one unit resting on the lintel of `the next, and secured together.

2. In a system of building construction, a pair of columns, each being of substantialT- shape in cross-section, and each column having a socket .formed at each end thereof, longitudinally of the web, pedestals adapted to rest upon a suitable foundation, and each having a tenon adapted to enter the socket at one end 'of each column, and a lintel, also i T-shaped in cross-section, sup orted by said columns, and having the en sof its webs tensive therewith, the parts being riveted together, and the plate being cut away at its ends to provide notches for the reception of suitable beams.

4. In a system of' building construction, a column composed of apair' of L-irons having la plate secured between them, and co-extensive therewith,'the endof said Iplate being or socket,

and a pedestal for said column having a -tenonadapted'to enter said socket.

A 5. In a system of building construction, a

' column comprising apair of spaced members,

a plate secured between said members andy co-extensiye therewith, and a sill on which such column is adapted to rest, said sill oomprisin a base and an upstanding web, and said p ate being cut away at its lower end to provide a socket to receive said web.

6. In a system'of buildin construction,a e pair of columns, and a linte connecting the same, each of said'oolumns comprising a pair of se arately formed spaced members, vand said 'ntel being of substantial T-shape, the web of said lintel being embraced by said members, and lthe flanges of said lintel restin on the tops of said members.

In testimony-whereof `I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH ROY BELCHER. Witnesses: i l

F. FITZGERALD,

J. E.A SAPP. 

